News Release
INDIANAPOLIS — Fourteen projects are expected to receive federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund program administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology.
This year, the Historic Preservation Fund grant awards total more than $635,000, which will be matched by the applicants with more than $604,000 for a total investment of more than $1.2 million for Indiana’s historic and cultural resources.
Divided into the categories of archaeology, rehabilitation, and architectural and historical, the projects are expected to begin this summer and be completed by June 30, 2026.
Among the 14 projects are:
- Archaeology project in Wabash County: A grant to Ball State Applied Anthropology Laboratories to conduct a Phase Ia archaeological survey of approximately 40 acres in Salamonie River State Forest.
- Rehabilitation project in Elkhart County: A grant to the Elkhart County Clubhouse to assist with installing high-efficiency heat pumps and rebuilding the unsafe rear porch in the 1890 Cora Dale House.
- Rehabilitation project in St. Joseph County: A grant to the city of South Bend to assist with the rehabilitation of the Walker Field Shelter House, which was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. The project will replace the asphalt shingle roof on the park structure and arcade wings.
- Rehabilitation project in St. Joseph County: A grant to the St. Casimir Parish to assist with the cost and installation of new boilers for the sanctuary and school wing of the historic church.
- Architectural and historical project in Allen County: A grant to the city of Fort Wayne and the Wildwood Park neighborhood to prepare a landscape study for the Rockhill Park.
The investment of Historic Preservation Fund money means the projects are considered a federal undertaking. Because of that, consulting parties have the opportunity to comment on the respective project under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 306108) and 36 C.F.R. Part 800.
The proposed scope of work for each project has been reviewed by Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology staff, who have determined that each meets the secretary of the interior’s standards and guidelines for historic properties and therefore will have no adverse effect on historic properties.
Anyone who would like to be a consulting party or provide public comments for any of the projects listed should contact the Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology by May 31, specifying the respective project(s), by mail at Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology, Attn: Historic Preservation Fund Grant Staff, 402 W. Washington St., Room W274, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or email at [email protected]. The Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology will then provide the scope of work, maps and photographs for the project(s) you are interested in for your review and comment.
